THE KINGDOM #3: HUNGER FOR SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH
(March 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
THE BIG IDEA:
Do you feel like you are stuck? Are you in need of a breakthrough in your life? If we want to experience a supernatural breakthrough in our lives, we need to stir up our HUNGER for God.
OPENING STORY:
“17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.” (2 Sam. 5:17-20).
• When David and his men were surrounded by the enemies, they looked to the Lord, and God responded by saying, “I am the Lord of the breakthrough!”
• How do you know if you need a breakthrough? If you’re bored, you have no joy, no peace, no passion for Jesus, no vision or direction for your life or ministry, no excitement in your spirit. You’re not experiencing the abundant life that Jesus died to bring you.
• You might need a breakthrough in your emotional state, health, finances, relationships…
HUNGER:
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” (Rev. 2:4-5).
The first thing we need to do if we want a spiritual breakthrough is to return to our first love.
Jacob: “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him… And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Gen. 32:24-26).
• Jacob persevered in prayer, and God responded to him by giving him a new life, new nature, and a new name. No longer was he going to be Jacob, the deceiver, but he would now be Israel, Prince with God.
Sons of Korah: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).
• See the hunger here! The sons of Korah said that they were as hungry for God’s presence as the hunted deer longs to plunge into the cool, refreshing streams of water.
David: “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” (Psalm 63:1-2).
• David was a man after God’s own heart, and He was hungry to know God.
• When David went to church, he wasn’t content to just sing songs about God, or hear stories about Him, but he wanted to encounter Him personally in His power and glory.
Blint Bart: “46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.” (Mark 10:46-52).
• Here was a man who was hungry for a touch from Jesus. He refused to be silenced by the crowd! Because of his perseverance in prayer, he received his breakthrough.
PERSONAL STORY:
I came to a place in my life and ministry where I was hungry for more of God in my life. I was tired of ‘church as usual’. I attended a Joel’s Army conference in Oregon in April where I had an encounter with an angel. The angel touched my eyes and ears and spoke to me: “Matt. 13.” The word the Lord gave me: “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom… blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” I went into a season of soaking in His presence, fellowship with Holy Spirit. We started pressing in in our youth group for revival – there were times where the room full of a hundred teenagers were all laid out on the floor – God began showing up, and we saw students encountering God through repentance, salvations, healings, rededications. We started praying and seeking God together and having mall invasions where we would go into malls and pray for sick people, lead people to Jesus, etc. It was an amazing time!
• We need to stir up our hunger if we want to experience a supernatural breakthrough!
• We’ve been invited to have a personal relationship with Jesus – don’t take it for granted!
• How do we stir up our hunger? Pray. Fast. Get into the Word.
• If we will fast (food, media, whatever), it will help stir up our hunger for more of God.
• Why aren’t we seeing God move more in North America? We are too comfortable and conservative. Why is God moving mightily in third world countries? Because they have nothing there.
PROMISE: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” (Isaiah 44:3).
CLOSING: Altar call for those who want a breakthrough – prayer!
SONGS: “Awesome God” and “Shout Unto God.”
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
